DATE=5/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232984
TITLE=CHINA / TAIWAN SPYING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TAIWAN IS DENYING THAT FOUR TAIWANESE BUSINESSMEN
ARRESTED BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR ESPIONAGE ARE LINKED TO
TAIPEI'S INTELLIGENCE BUREAU. V-O-A'S ROGER WILKISON REPORTS
BEIJING SAYS TAIWANESE INTELLIGENCE SENT THE MEN TO CHINA TO
COLLECT POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND MILITARY INFORMATION.
TEXT: CHINESE CENTRAL TELEVISION SHOWED THE FOUR TAIWANESE
SITTING GRIMLY AS THEY ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM PROSECUTORS. IT
SAID THE MEN CONFESSED TO BEING INTELLIGENCE AGENTS. THE REPORT
SAID THAT THE MAN CONSIDERED THE RINGLEADER -- KOU CHIEN-MING --
WAS ARRESTED IN BEIJING LAST MARCH, BUT IT GAVE NO DETAILS ON
WHERE OR WHEN THE OTHER ARRESTS OCCURRED. THE TELEVISION NETWORK
SAID THE FOOTAGE OF THE MEN BEING INTERROGATED WAS SHOT LAST
MONTH.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, TAIWAN ASKED CHINA FOR DETAILS ABOUT SEVERAL
TAIWANESE BUSINESSMEN REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN DETAINED ON SUSPICION
OF SPYING. BUT CHINESE OFFICIALS DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE CASE
UNTIL THURSDAY, WHEN THE SEMI-OFFICIAL ASSOCIATION FOR RELATIONS
ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT INFORMED ITS TAIWANESE COUNTERPART --THE
STRAITS EXCHANGE FOUNDATION-- OF THE ARRESTS.
THE FOUR ARRESTED BUSINESSMEN ARE MEMBERS OF A PRIVATE
ASSOCIATION FOUNDED BY MR. KOU IN 1991, TO CONDUCT CIVIL
EXCHANGES BETWEEN TAIWAN AND CHINA. CHINA'S OFFICIAL XINHUA NEWS
AGENCY SAYS THE SO-CALLED CHINESE CROSS-STRAITS NON-GOVERNMENTAL
EXCHANGE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN USED AS A COVER TO RECRUIT SPIES
AND SEND THEM TO THE MAINLAND. BUT TAIWAN SAYS THERE ARE NO
LINKS BETWEEN THE GROUP AND ITS INTELLIGENCE BUREAU. IT SAYS
MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION ARE BUSINESSMEN WITH INVESTMENTS IN
CHINA.
CHINA SAYS MR. KOU AND HIS COHORTS ADMITTED TRAVELING TO THE
MAINLAND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS TO GATHER
INTELLIGENCE. IT SAYS THAT A MANUAL ON INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING
WAS FOUND IN MR. KOU'S POSSESSION.
TAIWANESE NEWS MEDIA SAY MR. KOU'S ASSOCIATION HAS CLOSE LINKS
WITH AN ARM OF THE ISLAND'S RULING NATIONALIST PARTY, THAT IS
INVOLVED IN GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT CHINA. BUT THE TAIWANESE
GOVERNMENT SAYS BEIJING ACCUSES TAIPEI OF ESPIONAGE EVERY YEAR,
JUST AHEAD OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1989 MASSACRE OF
PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORS AS A WAY OF WARNING CHINESE
DISSIDENTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/FC/KL
29-May-98 7:13 AM EDT (1113 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.